Silo structure and anchoring system therefor



E. 1. VAN COTT.

SILO STRUCTURE AND ANCHORING SYSTEM THEREFOR.`

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5,-1921.

Patented Dec# 13 FRANK J. VAN GOTT, OF UNADILLA, NEW YORK.

SILO STRUCTURE .AND ANCHGRING SYSTEM THER-EFOR.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

I Application filed March 5, 1921. Serial No. 449,907.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. VAN GOTT, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Unadilla, in the county of Otsego and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Silo Structure andAnchoring System Therefor, or" which the following is a specification. y

The object of my invention is to provide a silo structure andv anchoringsystem therefor which is of comparatively simple, durable andinexpensive construction.

More particularly my invention relates to an anchoring system for silosand the like, wherein the silo will be prevented from twisting, and willmaintain its rigidity at all times.

Still another object is to provide in combination with a silo having awall composed of staves having their adjacent edges provided withco-acting tongues and grooves, a means extended diagonally through theadjacent edges of the staves for preventing up and down movement of thestaves relative to each other.

Still another object is to provide piers placed adjacent to the loweredge of the silo wall, to which maybe anchored anchoring cables forholding the silo upright; the piers forming a strong efficient means towhich the anchoring cables may be fastened, at the same time making theanchoring cables high enough so that they are not likely to be rubbedagainst or come in contact with animals which are likely to be near thesilo.

Still another object is to provide anchoring cables having their endsimmovably ixed to the'silo near its upper edge, and having its centeranchored to piers extending along the side of the silo, the ends of thecables being spaced apart so that the cables extend upwardly from theircenters and form a substantial V. 'A saddle device is used for anchoringthe centers of the cables to the piers, the saddle device being of theconstruction set forth in my Patent Number 1,311,141 issued to me July22nd, 1919.

Still another object is to provide in combination with a silo includingvertical staves, an anchoring system comprising cables Xed at their endsto the upper end of the silo and at their centers to reinforcing piers;and the staves being provided at their abutting edges with diagonallyarmy improved anchoring system shown thereon.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in perspective taken through some of thestaves, showing the diagonally arranged members for preventing movementof the staves.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4L is a sectional view taken on the line l-t of Fig. 1, showing thepier to which the cables are anchored; and

Fig. 5 is a detail, sectional view taken through two of the stavesshowing the diagonal members extended through their .abutting edges.

In the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate an ordinary base of a silo and 11 to indicate the silo wall,which is composed of a number of vertical staves. The staves beingprovidel with co-acting tongues-12 and grooves 13. The staves are of theordinary construction used in silo buildings. A door frame 13'1 isprovided in the silo wall for permitting access into the interior of thesilo.

A roof 14. is provided for the silo. A door opening 15 permits accessinto the interior of the silo.

Extending around the silo are the silo hoops or bands 16. The upper band1G of the silo has fixed to it clamping members 17.

Formed adjacent to the lower edge of the silo wall and extendingalongside of the base 10 and downwardly therefrom are the piers 18. Thepiers 18 form a reinforcing means for the lower end of the silo, andalso form a means to which the anchoring cables may be fixed.

The piers 18 are provided with a rod 19 having a plate or the like 20fixed to its lower end and embedded in the pier 18.

The upper end of the rod 19 is screw threaded as at 21. Slidably mountedon the rod 19 are the saddle devices 22 similar in construction to thesaddle devices mentioned in my Letters Patent Number 1,311,141, issuedJuly 22nd, 1919.

A nut 23 is fixed to the screw threaded end 21 of the rod 19 whereby thesaddle devices-may be adjusted on the rod 19. Anchoring cables 211 areprovided which have their ends fixed to the clamping device 17 near theupper end of the silo and having their centers extended around the guideportions of the saddle devices 22. The anchoring cables 24 extendupwardly and outwardly from their centers as illustrated in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings.

From the construction of the parts just described it will be seen thatby rotating the nut 23 on the screw threaded portion 21 of the rod 19,it will cause the saddle device to be moved, which will permit thecables 24C to either be loosened or fastened, as is desired e for firmlyanchoring the silo.

When the base 1() is poured bolts or the like 25 are placed therein withtheir heads projecting above the upper surface of the base. rl`he silowall is provided with nails or the like 251 which extend adjacent to thebolts or the like 25. In order to prevent air from passing in betweenthe base and the silo wall 1 pour a cement filler 25b which rests uponthe base and against the inner side of the silo wall. The nails 25a andbolts 25 are thus used for holding the ller 25D in position for thepurposes stated.

In order to prevent up and down movement of the staves of the silorelative to each other which causes the silo to become twisted and toincline, I provide the following described means. The abutting edges ofthe staves 11 of the silo are provided with openings 26,. rlhe openings26 are arranged diagonally through the abutting edges of the silo, andare adapted tov register with each other so that a dowel pin 27, may beextended through the diagonally arranged opening 26 for preventing upand down movement of the staves relative to each other.

The arrangement of the dowel pins 27 diagonally through the joints ofthe silo not only prevents up and down movement of the staves, but alsoprevents movement toward or from the adjacent staves.

The openings 26 may be staggered relative to each other as illustratedin Fig. 2 of the drawings. This forms a criss cross locking means forpositively eliminating any movement of the staves relative to eachother; and for always maintaining the silo in its true form, and rigid.y

It will be understood that a silo preferably of the wooden type mustwithstand wind pressure from the exterior, and pressure from theinterior caused by silage.

It will also be understood that a silo is filled only a part of theyear, and for that reason unequal pressures are applied to the walls atvarious times.

Again the contracting and expansion of the wooden staves, caused byatmospheric conditions, causes the joints of the silo to become loose,which permits up and down movement of the staves, and which in turncauses the twisting and inclination of the silo.

The arrangement of the dowel pins or members 27 diagonally through thejoint gives an anchoring means for the staves which is efficient andwhich prevents undesired movement of the silo walls.

It will be understood that while I have shown the opening 26 Vextendingclear through the silo wall, from its exterior to its interior, it willbe understood in this connection that the opening need not extend clearthrough the silo wall.

The arrangement of the piers 18 near the base of the silo makes itpossible to anchor the cables at such a height that it substantiallyassures them against contact with the animals usually around the silo.

It will be understood that animals rubbing against the cables cause themto become loosened which permits inclination of the silo, a result notdesirable.

The piers 18 absolutelyT eliminate such danger as well as form anadditional reinfolrcing and anchoring means for the entire s1 o.

It will be seen that my device is comparatively simple, and is veryeffective for walls maintaining the desired position of the silo, andfor holding it against any undesired movement.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device without departing from the'real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modiedforms of structure, or use of mechanical equivalents, which may bereasonably included within their scope.

Y I claim as my invention: Y

1. The combination of a silo, a door frame, a plurality of verticalstaves having coacting tongues and grooves on their adjacent edges, ananchoring system for preventing the twisting of the silo comprising ameml extended from the outer to the inner surface of the silo wall anddiagonally through the tongues and grooves of the adjacent staves.

3. The combination of a silo, a door frame, a plurality of verticalstaves having coacting tongues and grooves on their adjacent edges, ananchoring system for preventing the twisting of the silo, said anchoringsystem including means extended from the outer to the inner surface ofthe silo wall and diagonally through the joint of the staves and saidmeans having its ends received in the adjacent staves for thepurposesvstated.

4. The combination with a silo comprising a door frame, plurality ofvertical staves having their edges abut against each other, and a basetherefor, of an anchoring system comprising a plurality of dowel pinsextended from the outer to the inner surface of the silo wall anddiagonally through the abutting edges of the adjacent staves forpreventing the twisting of the silo and main` taining its rigidity forthe purposes stated.

5. The combination with a silo comprising a door frame, a plurality ofvertical staves having their edges abut against each other, and a basetherefor, of an anchoring system comprising a plurality of dowel pins,the

abutting edges of the staves being provided with registering openings,said openings being arranged diagonally across the joint of the abuttingstaves, said dowel pins being received in said openings for preventingthe twisting of the silo and maintaining its rigidity for the purposesstated.

6. A silo wall construction including a series of vertical staves havingtheir edges abut against each other, the abutting edges of 'said stavesbeing provided with registering openings, each of said openings beingarranged diagonally across the joint of the abutting edges and adaptedto receive a dowel pin, whereby up and down movement and sidewardmovement of the staves relative to each other will be prevented.

7. A silo wall construction including' a series of vertical staveshaving their edges abut against each other, the abutting edges of saidstaves being provided with co-acting tongues and grooves and registeringopenings, each of said openings being arranged diagonally across thejoint of the abutting edges and through the co-acting tongues andgrooves and adapted to receive a dowel pin, whereby up and downmovement, and sideward movement of the staves relative to each otherwill be prevented.

8. The combination of a silo including a wall of vertical staves havingco-acting tongue and groove portions on their edges, a door` frame and abase therefor, of an anchoring system including iers extended upwardlyfrom the base along the side of the silo, a saddle device secured toeach of said piers, cables fixed to said saddle devices and having theirends fixed to the upper edge of the silo and means extending diagonallythrough the co-acting tongue and groove portions for preventing any upand down movement of the staves relative to each other and for holdingthe silo against twistino'.

25D?. The combination of a silo including a wall of vertical staveshaving co-acting tongue and groove portions on their edges, a door frameand a base therefor, of an anchoring system including piers extendedupwardly from the base along the side of the silo, a saddle devicesecured to each of said piers, cables fixed to said saddle devices andhaving their ends fixed to the upper edge of the silo, and meansextended diagonallyl through the co-acting tongue and groove portionsfor preventing any up and down movement of the staves relative to eachother, said last means including dowel pins extended through registeringopenings arranged diagonally through the joint of the adjacent staves.

l0. The combination of a silo including a Wall of vertical staves havingco-acting tongue and groove portions on their edges, a door frame and abase therefor, of an anchoring system including piers extended upwardlyfrom the base along the side of the silo, a saddle device secured toeach of the upper ends of said piers, cables having their ends immovablyfixed to the silo near its upper edge, the center of said cables beingreceived in said saddle devices and said cables being extended upwardlyand Outwardly from their centers, and means extended diagonally throughthe co-acting tongue and groove portions for preventing any up and downmovement of the staves relative to each other, said last means includingdowel pins extended through registering openings arranged diagonallythrough the joint of the adjacent staves.

ll. The combination of a silo including a wall of vertical staves havingco-acting tongue and groove portions on their edges, a door frame and abase therefor, of an anchoring system including piers extending upwardlyfrom the base along the side of the silo, a saddle device secured toeach of said piers, cables having their ends immovably secured to theupper end of the silo wall and having their centers received in saidsaddle devices, said cables being extended upwardly and outwardly alongthe silo wall, said saddle devices being adjustably mounted on saidpiers whereby they may be moved downwardly for drawing the silo Walldownward and crowding it toward the piers all for the purposes stated.

l2. The combination of a. silo including a wall of vertical staveshaving co-acting tongue and groove portions on their edges, a doorfra-me and a base therefor, of an anchoring system including piersextended upward for drawing the silo wall downward wardly from the basealong the side of the and crowding it toward the piers, and dowel silo,a saddle device secured to each of said pins extended diagonally throughthe co-actl piers, cables having their ends immovably ing tongue andgroove portions of the staves l secured to the upper end of the silowall and for preventing their up or down movement 15 having theircenters received in said saddle relative to each other all for thepurpose devices, said cables being extended upwardly stated. andoutwardly along .the silo'wall, said sad- Des Moines, Iowa7 February l5,1921. dle device beingv adjustably mounted on said 10 piers whereby theymay be moved down- FRANK J. VAN GOTT.

